Lower Higgins Creek

Here's another destination few people know about. Lower Higgins Creek is one of the most beautiful and serene places I've found and a favorite for taking pictures and walking the dog. If you love hiking and photography, you ought to check this one out. The trail follows the creek as it tumbles down over moss-covered rocks. Eventually the trail will become a bit more steep. You will be rewarded for your efforts with a series of six waterfalls! (more pics here) -- the only problem being that there are no easy trails leading to the base of some of the falls, so you'll need to be adventuresome to slide down the steep slopes. The main trail can become overgrown in the summer months, so now is a great time to visit. If you make a bee-line up the hill from the parking area to the first waterfall (above), you can make it there in 30-40 minutes (one way). But why hurry when there are so many beautiful scenes to take in along the way.

Directions: Take I-26 to the Temple Hill exit #43 just south of Erwin and then turn right onto the old Asheville Highway (19/23), after 3/4 mile, turn right onto Lower Higgins Creek Road and drive 1.5 miles till you reach a dead end (the road becomes gravel toward the end). There's a clearing where you can park. The trail is actually an old logging road which begins to the left over a rickety, old wooden bridge.